The inauguration today of P-Noy is all about a fresh start for a country tired of the nine years of inept service by the past government.

All of the Filipino people pro-Noynoy or anti-Noynoy pin their hopes that a positive change will radiate in our country. I, too, am hoping for such change.

From P-Noy’s speech there are signs of bringing governance sensitive to the common people’s needs. Saying is a very different matter from acting it to be a reality, I wish that hindrances from making this much awaited concept of government for the people, and by the people be removed and eliminated on P-Noy’s ascendancy as our leader.

However, much to the high expectations we are putting on P-Noy’s shoulder, I wanted everyone to be realistic that this country is made up of 90 million people, and we cannot just entrust it to one man. Leadership must emanate from above and below, from everywhere to anywhere.

We have a duty to be a leader ourselves in running this country towards our dream of a Developed Philippines.

P-Noy will just set an example of how to be a leader in making a positive change in the country. We will collectively lead this nation. We have the supreme leader that as long as he is acting in accordance with the legacy of his father and mother, we can never get wrong.

Good luck President Noynoy Aquino may God give you all the gifts you need to steer this nation to greatness.

It is hard to find eagles in our midst. If you found one do not ever let it go. If you are one, you need other eagles to sustain the heights that you have scaled or else the wind will knock you down.

This is the ordeal of being a leader, we always give to others but when it is our time to be filled we find it difficult to look for those that will fill us. As the saying goes, “you cannot give what you do not have”.

Luckily, there is an event happening this coming July 6, 2010 at Asian Institute of Managements. The event is “Reach Your Full Leadership Potential with Leadership Circles”. It is happening from 6pm to 9pm where you get share a seat with leaders like you and discuss leadership issues and how to go about it.

It is not a pedagogical exercise but a sort of sharing experiences coming from others is in a different industry. There will be creative fusion – this is a guarantee.

There are 7 reasons why you should be here:

1. Learn and share experiences from an intimate and interactive environment with members who have YOUR same interests!

2. You will gain fresh insights on leadership growth

3. You will be able to practice your mentoring and coaching skills

4. You will receive mentoring and coaching from other leaders as well

5. You can regularly reignite your excitement to lead

6. You can experience one-on-one executive coaching from the facilitator upon request (with a fee should it entail a longer discussion)

7. You need a circle of leaders that you can regularly connect with and get a third opinion on ideas

If you want to know details of this event, you may call tel # 643-3887.

Again, no man is an island and leadership is not an overnight endeavour but a continuing journey that can be enjoyable if you have other leaders to share your success, and learn from their success too

Last time around I talked about how critical is managing time gaps in an event. I was elated that after writing that article a great example took place during the National Marketing Conference where I attended.

Ms. Matec Villanueva, Chairman of Publicis Manila, one of the speakers, showed a lot of creativity in not getting caught in those time gaps. The situation is this, when it was her turn to speak, her powerpoint presentation encountered a technical problem. It is not projecting in the big screen. A lot of time was spent trying to trouble shoot the problem. Alas, the trouble shooting activity took a lot of time from her presentation before it was projected to the screen.

However, instead of losing the energy of the audience, Ms. Matec Villanueva told a lot of stories, crack jokes and, even, dance to the enjoyment of the crowd as it gets involved with the antics of Ms. Villanueva. When everything is already ok, the audience is more pumped up and involved to Ms. Villanueva. It is like the speaker became a personal friend and her presentation became a casual conversation between two people.

She expressed why she hates encountering technical problems during presentation that is she does not like dead air.

I guess dead air brings more intensity to the meaning of time gaps. It brings more the emotion of enervation or a state of stagnation to a much more serious and deeper consequence.

Yes, dead air! We do not like it during events, therefore, we must labor hard to avoid this for taking over our events which we painstakingly created to be possible.

You created a great concept and content for your event but placed in a situation where the next speaker is not yet ready, the stage is being fixed and, suddenly, dead silence emanates followed ebbing of the audience energy to the lowest level takes place.

Most of the times, this is what happen. We do our Daily Run Sheet but forgot to give special attention to time gaps that always happen in between topics or during breaks. We forgot to consider that in this critical period an enervating inertia may take place. Inertia that makes us slips within our hands the attention of the audience. Even, sadly, sometimes, we are judged because of this area which is critical but overlooked.

So next time that you are creating your Daily Run Sheet, make sure that you give a special attention on time gaps that take place inside your event and give it creative ways with the objective of maintaining the audience energy created at the start of your event. For sure, handling the time gaps properly will help you sustain the energy until the end of your event.

The annual National Marketing Conference of the Philippine Marketing Association opens today’s with more than 500 delegates, and 30 exhibitors and sponsors joining this prestigious event.

The event which runs from June 24-25,2010 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza has this year’s theme : Marketing as Growth Accelerator: Marketing in Hyper Speed.

The event was opened by Dr. Cecilio Pedro, President of Lamoiyan Corporation. In his speech, he hammered to the delegates the need to speak positive things about the Philippines and the Filipinos. The delegates gave him a resounding applause as a signal that they agreed to what he said.

After his speech, RJ Esteban gave a scientific and incisive presentation about Laying Bare the Customer Mindset – Loyalty or Infidelity. He mentioned that some segments of the market have two conflicting personalities that marketers must know how to manage. He cited Batanes as a figurative example to what he is pointing at, and the OFW market as one of the specific examples.

The next speaker is Thomas Fernandez, a Singaporean who wrote the bestselling books “Secrets to Dominate Your Niche” and “Success Secrets Exposed”. He told about his success story how he dominated the pest control and management industry in Singapore and now the Asian market.

Before Lunch, the last session was about the Certified Practitioner of Marketing (CPM) where Dr. Rohan Somawansa expounds on the benefits of being a CPM.

Other speakers of the first day event are Mr. Ricardo de Vera on “The Different Shades of Green and How the Green Marketing Can Grow Your Market and Sales in Hyperspeed”, Mr. Jos Ortega,CEO of JWT on “Trapping the Elusive Generation Y Market to Expand and Grow” and Mr. Goran Aleks, GM of Sofitel on “Tourism as the Country’s Express Lane Towards Economic and Market Growth”.

Today’s headline banners the first Philippine Marketing Plan that is geared towards achieving P2.4 trillion worth of investments. It is a welcome news and I pray that this happen. However, before this happen I would just like to make a pragmatic observation. How can we achieve it if we do not have the infrastructure to welcome the investors? In particular, we have to have a first class and state-of-the-art airport to prove our seriousness to achieve this plan.

Just recently, I blogged about the plight of our airports, I called P-Noy to take a special look on the airport industry. Funny that day after my blog, our airport encountered the breakdown of our NAIA Radar that sent thousands of passengers stranded and flights re-routed to Clark.

I believe that we as a country can achieve the dreams we are all aspiring for – to be a developed nation, but this recent event reeks of incompetence and lack of proactiveness to have redundancy in the area of systems that critical in running an efficient and safe airport.

Again, in this particular industry we have suffered enough from the downgrade coming from US, to the ban implemented by Europe, to the decrepit and ailing NAIA 1 and 2, and now the conking out of the radar.

So amidst the much publicized Philippine Marketing Plan and the target earnings it promised to deliver I feel that it will be more words than action if we will not do something about our airports.

Our airports are the world’s entry to our country. It is the tourists and investors first moment of truth experience of the Philippines and yet our official and businessmen that declare their love for our country seem to be turning blind in confronting the airport maladies.

Just recently, Singapore experienced its first flood in the Orchard Road, and yet a day after this catastrophe, the officials and department assigned to monitor such disaster came out and apologize. To think that Singapore only experienced this incident only now, not often as we do, but their government officials and our government officials have disparate value system.

A change in the government leadership is a positive change; I pray that my ranting turns to praising in the end. I know Filipinos can do it and we can do it. The first step is a massive improvement with our airports that will make us proud and clap our hands symbolizing we have arrived in the center stage of the world.

Since the explosion of the vast frontier of the internet many have attempted to conquer this new space. Some called it the white space, a new battlefield that everybody is magnetized. It is a space that gave birth to millions of jobs and new millionaires.

I myself is still trying to grasp the enormity of this new space. I myself is trying to make sense of this unique animal that when tamed can give enormous wealth.

Good thing that there is an event slated tomorrow that will introduce us to some of the peculiarities of Google’s adwords – one of the most important moneymaking tool in the internet.

It is a two day affair that may happen again next year, and it’s a very long time if that is the case. So I invite you to attend this opportunity and grab every bite of what you can learn. Definitely, it will be a big help.

The event takes place in Crown Plaza Ortigas, you may walk-in or call tel# 643-3887. The investment rate is P10, 595 + vat.

Speakers are from Singapore, they are Simon Leung and Fabian Lim. They are both experts in internet marketing, so the time you spent hearing them is worth it.

See you there and let us exchange knowledge in this once in a lifetime event.

Last Sunday was Father’s Day and oh boy the traffic in Julia Vargas Avenue is so horrible it's tail went as far as C5 Rd. So while I am on the driver seat contemplating why we have this kind of Sunday, I resigned to the truth that all fathers are going out of their way to treat or be treated by their families.

After waiting for almost an hour and finishing a plastic pack of Nagaraya, we reached the mall of our destination. A sigh of relief covered my face after the ordeal. The left part of my body is almost numb because of the shifting movements I must do to interchangeably push the break and clutch pedal (Oh well a small discomfort for this kind of celebration).

We went to church and after it comes the moment we all have been waiting for - to watch Toy Story 3. It’s been quite a while, if I do recall, watching Toy Story 1 and 2, so I am very curious how the plot develops on its third serving. I am also nervous that my expectations for the movie will not be met and I will end-up regretting the day’s celebration which is for people of my kind.

Again, we encountered long lines, but luckily because of the Citibank promo I ended lining-up to a lane for this purpose only, and thank God, it is very short and comfortable. I feel sorry to those who have to battle lines that are 30 to 40 people deep just to have a ticket – but that is another story.

I and my family proceeded to watch Toy Story 3; I can only express happiness for reconnecting again with Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang. It is hilarious (I remember laughing many times in different scenes), and dramatic (I try to avoid being drown into sadness, however the scenes crafted for this emotions are so powerful I can't help but be swept away).

After watching the movie, there are 3 important lessons that was etched into my mind:

1. Family Stick Together No Matter What

Wood, Buzz and the rest of the gang are a family. Despite the situation that was given to Woody, he never left his family even if the opportunity to be with Andy, who is going to college, is a very enticing proposition.

The sense of family shown in Toy Story is very applicable to organizations. In an organization, most of the time, there is no blood connection but if members of the group stays together to pursue the goals agreed upon, in the end everything will be fine, just like in the movie. Goals are achieved and members are happy.

2. Loyalty and Being Responsible Goes Together

Despite Andy’s biological changes, Woody remained loyal to Andy as a toy even if he is seldom being played anymore by Andy. He also shows that his Loyalty means that he must defend Andy to the criticisms of his “family”. He showed that you can only be loyal if you performed the role assigned to you responsibly.
In this situation being a responsible part of Andy's toy. For these traits, Woody was rewarded and Andy's most favorite toy.

As members of an organization, we are put to test with our loyalty be performing the duties that we have responsibly. We cannot declare that we are loyal to our company or family then stab them at the back by criticizing them to non-members of the organization.

Just like in the telenovela Queen Seon Dok, followers of the opposing power holders follow and perform their assigned duties for their leaders.

Simply put, we can never declare ourselves loyal if we will not perform our responsibilities.

3. Changes is inevitable, Adaptation is necessary

When Woody and Buzz’s group accepted that they must move forward because of the changes that took place with Andy, a better opportunity fell into their hands. They found a new owner that will love them the same way they were loved by Andy.

In life, changes is inevitable and the faster we embrace it the better we can see the opportunities that changes bring to fore.

There are other lessons that I have learned in watching this very enjoyable movie. All the hassles that we encountered before watching this movie are erased and trivial because of the benefits that we reaped.

No wonder Toy Story 3 is the number one movie to date worldwide.

There is only one thing that I disagree in the movie, the part where Ken declares he is not a girl’s toy (LOL). Just kidding.

I suggest that you should watch this movie. It is one event that your attendance is a must!

DMCI, one of the premier property developers in the country, will showcase attractive and affordable housing and lifestyle living at the Negosyo Power Expo this August 20-22,2010 at Trinoma Mall.

DMCI property will surely give the attendees a selection of worthy property investments that only DMCI can deliver.

DMCI’s presence in Negosyo Power Expo gives those entrepreneurs and businessmen an opportunity to acquire assets that will provide them passive incomes hand-in-hand with their current businesses.

Besides the investment potential of the properties that will be presented by DMCI, visitors will also enjoy a visual feast to the exhibit display that the company will present in convincing their market why being an owner of one of their prime properties is a right and wise decision.

The Metrowealth International Group of Companies will be promoting its new products and services to the upcoming Negosyo Power Expo slated August 20-22,2010 at Trinoma Mall.

Metrowealth International Group of Companies was established in 1995 after merging of few companies from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Since its inception it has become one of the most sought after business networking in the Asia Pacific region.

• Trading of WAKi brand's electrical home appliances and health care products to European countries.

• Internet marketing of food supplements and health care products.

• Movies & Audio productions in ASEAN countries.

The WAKi Worldwide is a subsidiary company of Metrowealth Worldwide that is committed to market & distribute WAKi’s brand electrical home appliances, health care products and food supplements in ASEAN countries.

WAKi Worldwide acts as the marketing arm of Metrowealth Worldwide in promoting and selling WAKi’s brand products in Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore through its wholly owned outlets. Metrowealth has over 100 branches and over 1000 employees in its business network.

You can learn more about Metrowealth International Group of Companies and take advantage the opportunities and high quality products they are offering by visiting Negosyo Power Expo.

VMobile Technologies Incorporated – a subsidiary of Penta Capital Group of Companies who also runs LoadXtreme joins Negosyo Power Expo, slated this August 20-22,2010 at Trinoma Mall.

VMobile Technologies will showcase the Universal Prepaid Loading System in the exhibit. An E-Business that allows all pre-paid products and services into your loadwallet that caters to all cellphone and internet users.

VMobile Technologies offers a portable business that requires only a minimal capitalization. Best of all, you can bring the business everywhere you go.

As of the moment, VMobile Technologies has 26,000 dealers and still growing. It is a business that is providing earning opportunities to homemakers, students and employees that are looking for extra income.

V Mobile Technologies features the following :

• The FIRST and Revolutionary Way in prepaid products distribution and marketing.

• The FIRST Contactless Stored Value Card for MRT is the AXS Card launched by Vmobile Technologies, Inc. July 19, 2008

• The FIRST Universal e-loading with Data Center

To become part of VMobile Technologies you may visit Negosyo Power Expo and engage with the many representatives that are waiting to show you the wonderful earning opportunities that it offers.

For more information about Negosyo Power Expo call tel # 643-3887 or 640-1280.

Today is father’s day and I always recalled my father and how he contributed big to what I am today. His sacrifices are soo many that I know I owe him a lot. Although, I wish that we could have been emotionally closer like what I am to my kids (kissing the kids and motivating them to aspire, mind you they are boys). I know that we have a different situation on being a father so I cannot compare how our style.

But my father performed his role to me and I can never ask for more. He drilled in me the importance of education. Most especially, when he is drank, he always murmur the importance of education saying, “ tanging pag-aaral mo lang ang maipapamana namin sa iyo”. It stucked on me and in my heart I know I have to perform well in school.

One of the painful but sweetest experiences that I had with my father is waiting for his jeep so I could ride going to school and asked for my baon. It was a very sweltering afternoon, I patiently waited for him. After almost waiting for an hour, he came by and I wave. I embark on his jeep and sat beside him.

My heart was crumpled and taken aback; my father’s t-shirt is drenched in sweat because of the heat. He looked dead tired because of the humidity that even when he smiled upon seeing me it is a smile of someone who has no choice but to have his kind of work just for me and my siblings to go to school.

I can only pressed his hand and give his soaked towel to lessen the perspiration imprisoning his whole body. I kissed him in his head (one of the few times that I did it to him) and disembark confused on what I just witnessed and felt.

That particular day made my resolve to finish my schooling etched in stone.

Past forward today, I still vividly recall that scene. I know my father is proud of me and I am proud of my father. I have gone through a lot of challenges and I used him as my strength. Almost always I have come-out of the challenges as a victor.

Today is Father’s Day it is time to call him again, greet him and says, “ Salamat Papa”.

I had a privilege to listen to the father and son tandem of Mr. Menardo Jimenez and Butch Jimenez. Both are achievers and Filipino leaders in their own right. The opportunity to listen to them is like finding money while you are meandering to a street – it’s a treasure that I will cherish.

Now, I would like to share Butch Jimenez 3P’s in being a leader to a group that moves and grow-up.

1. PRESSURE

He mentioned that balloons need helium but state that low helium will not make balloons fly. While too much helium will make balloons explode. Therefore, the challenge is finding the balance, the right mix of helium to make the balloons fly.

This is how he compares pressure that we as leader apply to people to make them move. He said that there are two pressures, the negative and positive. The key is to apply positive pressure to make our people move in the direction that we like.

2. PASSION

Passion, his second P, is what makes people grow-up and fly high. He said that he would rather work with people that have passion than work with skilled people that have no passion.

Passion can be develop within the team if the leader shows by example how passionate he/she is to the work.

He said that passion determines the winner between two teams that have the same skill sets.

3. PURPOSE

The most important P among the Ps of Butch Jimenez is purpose. There must be a deeper reason why a person is doing something and achieving it. In the research he mentioned it is not money but the feeling of being significant. SIGNIFICANCE therefore is very important and it is derived by the purpose that a leader spells out to his team.

He examples his drive to make DSL a staple in the whole country, at first; he cannot derive any meaning to what he is dong other than selling DSL to the country. But alas, after reading a book about the great Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, his purpose in selling DSL got deeper. He learned from Lee Kuan Yew that DSL or Internet for that matter is important in bringing education and growth to the country.

In fact, as he hammered out, for Singapore it is very critical that each and every family owns an internet connection for Singapore to be able to compete with the world.

This is what drove Butch Jimenez to promote and push DSL in the country. A deeper purpose for what he is doing.

This is what leaders must spell-out clearly their respective teams, the purpose deeper than what the eyes can see.

The purpose must be linked and beneficial to the society and the country.

I love being part of the audience last night. I enjoyed the father and son tandem talking and sharing their success secrets.Of course, I enjoyed the food and the music. The organizers are very good in creating a seamless event.

I believe that these 3Ps would be beneficial to all MICE operators in facing the challenges of the world.

In the face of stiff competition, we MICE players must have put positive pressure to our people, be passionate on what we do and have a purpose that touch the growth of our society and country.

If this 3 ingredients interplay well in our practice, I see that a great Philippines is just around the corner.

Today says a lot of something to what is in store for us in the future. Today always seems already gone the moment you open your eyes in the morning. It seems Today is on a rush to leave the parking lot immediately even before the sun sets in.

This moment is so commonplace in all aspects of our life right now. So having stated the obvious what now?

My answer is that we need to ADJUST ourselves to this reality - CONSCIOUS ADJUSTMENT. Sounds easy, but actually it is like stopping a rushing wave without anything to hold on to. Running head-on smack to the hyper speeding waves of reality will destroy us. It will drown us and make us numb – makes us unable to differentiate what is real and not real.

Good thing that there is an event that will delve on Hyper Speed and how we can harness and tame this bull from the horn.

In particular, I am talking about taming and generating power in Hyper Speed in the field of Marketing.

Yes! June is National Marketing Conference (NMC) month of the Philippine Marketing Association (PMA) and they have prepared a diverse topics and speakers that will examine the fuzzy Global Market and White Spaces left in the market place where we can triumph and harness the power of hyper speed.

This is a challenging task but with the deep experience of PMA in conducting breakthrough conference for the marketing industry the attendees will surely go home satisfied and illuminated at the end of the two-day conference.

Samples of the topics are: Trapping the Elusive Generation Y Market to Expand and Grow, Laying Bare the Customer Mindset – Loyalty or Fidelity?, Reinventing Physical Space as a Hyper growth Strategy and the Future of Marketing Communication.

These are just few of the futuristic topics in store for all of those attending this prestigious annual event.

By the way, the event is slated next week June 24-25 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza. The fees are very affordable for PMA Members it is P10,000.00 and for Non PMA members it is P12,000.00, for onsite registrants it is P15,000.00.

I like to sum the experience that is about to take place in this NMC, it is like reading Alvin Toffler’s Powershift for the first time and basking on different game-changing concepts that is unto your lap for the taking.

Yes, there is this seriousness of topics but don’t be fooled and don’t be afraid, PMA is known for tackling these topics to a very simple yet enjoyable journey.

This morning while I am having my coffee and watching T.V., the news about the SLEX 250% increased toll fee rate got my attention.

Apparently, the increased in the toll way rates generated a negative reaction from the main users of the highway – the bus operators plying it.

This made me look at the details of SLEX development and study the benefits of the improved highway. SLEX is the longest expressway in the country at a distance measuring a total of 97 kilometers. SLEX snakes thru the following cities: Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas and the near future Quezon.

All the improvements to rehabilitate SLEX cost P12 Billion pesos. The benefits of a shorten travel time, safe travel, and saved gasoline because of the improved roads are a very good news from the motorists.

I should know how it feels to travel in a very comfortable condition, I use SLEX whenever I go to the south – I believe everybody does.

I remember during my younger days travelling in SLEX, it was very dangerous – few lights, bumpy roads, congested lanes (you guess it a lot of accidents take place during night and even during daylight).

I believe that the toll operators should increase and get earnings from the venture of improving SLEX – they deserve it. Although 250% increase is very high. I propose a gradual increase so as not to shock, most especially the bus operators that use SLEX.

SLEX and other road developments are infrastructure that we need badly in order to improve our tourism and trade industry. A highway that guarantees speed and safety is what we need in order to spur economic activities.

The increase of toll rates only shows that there is a price to pay if we wanted to have progress. There can never be free lunch. There is no free lunch. If we want development, we must embrace the risk and responsibilities that goes with it.

SLEX being the longest highway in our country needs to be first class. I am willing to pay additional just to have a taste of it and free my mind from the worries that a decrepit highway offers.

I was once asked if face time matters in the midst of the proliferation of digital promotion. Can we forego meeting face-to-face in this background where a chat is possible, everyone is just an email away, facebook and other social media is so popular?

Having appreciated this question and changes in our social conditions I arrived on 3 reasons why face time still matters.

They are as follow:

1. Engagement – true engagement at that can only take place when two persons meet. There is this transaction that is very special whenever physical meetings take place. Someone creates a special bond with another person thru physical meeting. Prejudice is eliminated when you are given an opportunity to know the person on firsthand experience.

I cannot imagine creating a deep engagement thru twitter or other digital platforms.

2. Spontaneity – Interaction becomes fun and intimate because there is spontaneity. Email is a contemplated response. So does other digital media. Even chat or I.M. is contemplated response most of the times.

Spontaneity is that Special Moment that takes place during face time. It is a moment where you really have the opportunity to veer away with the actual topic and ask other topics in order to navigate the holistic properties of an individual.

There is nothing more exciting than spontaneity that leads to deeper trust.

3. Relationship – since I have mentioned trust. Trust is the prerequisite for a meaningful relationship. We can never replace the warmth and power of a handshake. Two different hands touching each other are not only symbolical but very visual as to what is taking place between two people.

Even eye contacts made by two people with each other or an exchange of laughter caused by a simple banter can never be replaced by our simple tapping of keyboards or video cam encounter (most of the times moving in a slow motion).

Something is lost in the digital plane that humans possess during face time. This very special something that is carried by the 3 reasons I mentioned makes face time a compelling activity that we must never lose or give-up because of the ease that digital platforms offer us.

In the world of business, in particular in establishing our relationship with our clients and partners there is nothing like face time.

Yes, meeting a person face-to-face despite the challenge of a sweltering heat is most beneficial in creating a long lasting relationship and business venture.

This might be a bit of stretch but if ever PNoy and those businessmen in the upper echelons of our society may allow, I propose that we create new infrastructure landmarks that will welcome the Philippines to the 21st century.

Again, this might be a wishful thinking given the big budget deficit that falls on Pnoy’s lap. But it might help if we try to push ourselves in creating something impossible possible.

There are ways to make these happen provided our leaders with vision WILL IT.

A new landmark like the Capital Gates of Dubai which has overshadowed the leaning tower of Pisa has provided a spring of confidence and pride to the nation and the people of Dubai.

Yes, we do have old and historical landmarks. But this is a different matter. These old landmarks belong to the past, worth coming back but it does not assist in projecting a fresh future for our country.

New landmarks will do the job. It will give a huge boost to the confidence of the Filipino people. It will shout to the world that we are coming to join the party of the developed countries.

I watched PM Mahathir Mohammad of Malaysia on History Channel telling stories about how he assisted in creating a landmark for Malaysia that stoke the fire of achievement to his people – I am talking about the Petronas Tower.

We in the Philippines can and must aspire to emulate our Asian neighbours in this aspect.

We must create landmarks for the future. Landmarks that will add more sheen to our history and psychologically help us aspire for a higher life and well-being.

I once have a chat with a colleague, she said that during that time when the PICC was built it was the envy of our Asian neighbours. To date, there no other landmarks yet that will cause other countries to give us a second look. There is a no landmark to cause positive feelings to our people.

I propose that we create now that landmark that will bring us back to the map of the world.

How much have we achieved as an independent nation. How many Filipinos understand Independence? Is the independence we are enjoying beneficial to the majority of the people?

There is a running joke that I enjoy and abhor at the same time. The joke is that we only feel our being Filipino whenever Pacquiao fights. Is this also holds true with our Independence? We only value it whenever someone tramples on our rights or some of our wants are restricted (I understand that most of the times are wants are just caprices).

I am sharing Jennifer Turners meaning of independence presented in different contextual level:

“Independence means the freedom to separate ourselves from personal ideologies and intellectually challenge ourselves to see the full scope of an issue in order to find real solutions for the good of the whole.

Independence means we must not depend on the opinions of others, but on the factual issues and actions of individuals and our governments.

Independence means choosing to empower ourselves with the information to independently make up our own minds.

Independence means creating a world society in which we can perceive nations through a satellite view, rather than a microscopic view, and make value judgments based on what's good for the future, rather than the present.

Independence means we have the freedom to pursue personal needs while choosing global motivations, and face the consequences of those actions, both wonderful and tragic, with the intent to learn, grow, and gain wisdom.

True independence means recognizing that every type of thought and belief system has something to teach, to offer, and that if we learn from those in our world, our chances of creating real change for the betterment of all increases exponentially.

Wisdom demands we further our own independence by freeing ourselves from the prison of personal experience by embracing realities other than our own and thereby freeing ourselves from the shackles of ignorance.”

Ms. Turner gave a very incisive meaning of Independence. The most that struck me is the last paragraph that urges us to free ourselves from our own reality and embracing a better reality. It wants us not to accept what is currently happening in our country and embrace a better country which is also hinge on our shoulders.

Every time I am caught in the middle of traffic I see beggars, mostly kids knocking on my window shield – sometimes I give and sometimes I don’t. But after passing them by, deep inside I know that I embrace their reality and I am part of their reality. And the only way to stop the vicious cycle is to replace it with a better reality that is not very distant. It is just around the corner, if only most of us – especially those who have a comfortable reality would join hands and forcefully declare: ENOUGH OF THIS BAD REALITY THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS LONG HAVE BEEN SUFFERING.

Now that the dust of the election campaign has settled it is time to buckle down to work.

Base on all economic indicators, like consumer price index and GNP, all is looking up. However , before anything else. Before we are drown into celebration, I would just like to request that President Noynoy Aquino and his government should prioritize in creating an International Caliber Airport.

Yes! An Airport that will awe the tourist visiting in our country. An airport that will symbolize our resurgence as a country that will grab the economic opportunity the changing world offers.

Each time I go out of the country, there is always that gnawing feeling that our airport is one of those lagging behind our Asian neighbours and the world. I know the same sentiment is shared by other Filipinos who wanted to showcase how great our country is in terms of tourism and doing business here.

No wonder our tourist visitors last year is only at three million while our Asian neighbours generated as high as 14 Million.

It is not rocket science, if we do not have the facility and infrastructure to welcome visitors we will not have visitors. Tourist visitors that can promote our country thru world of mouth when they get back home to their respective countries. Business tourists that can be encouraged to set-up shop in our country.

Even our three million visitors are mostly comprise of Balikbayans. A sad reality that does not augur well to our country.

We are declaring that we are embracing globalization and yet we are not doing anything to improve the access of our country to the rest of the world who are very eager to get inside, provided there is ease of access and security.

President Noynoy I know that the past government will leave you a big budget deficit. But please do not make it as an excuse not to create an International Airport – the country’s welcome lobby to the world.

I once attended an event welcoming a new tourism official, she said that our country is the heart of Asia. I like that and I hope the rest of the world can personally know that the Heart of Asia truly is something worth seeking and immersing for.

But only if the heart provides an accessible door way for those willing to enter – an Airport that is.

Last May I went to Boracay and use the Caticlan Airport. Inside the plane there was a US family very excited in having a vacation in Boracay. As we are about to land, our plane made a very sharp turn in approaching the landing area and then suddenly as it landed on the ground made an abrupt stop.

The mother of the US family was very shocked of how the plane landed. I overheard her swearing never to come again in this beautiful island of Boracay because of this rollercoaster like feeling she had. I feel sad about the comment and comforted myself that her perception will change once she is already basking in the sun and enjoying the white beach of Boracay.

I told myself that hopefully the plan to extend and widen the airport of Caticlan push thru.

Now, I am hearing that there is a group against this and using the environment as the reason not to extend Caticlan Airport’s landing area. Well they may have a valid point but there is a better way of safeguarding the environment vis-a-vis stretching further the airport.

I don’t know but logically if there will be more travellers that can be accommodated because on an improved airport then all these cause oriented groups for the environment is ask that a fee for improving and developing the environment be taken from the increased volume of visitors in the island.

There is a better way, a middle point to address the environment concerns. I also hope that it is really the environmental concerns that the group is after for opposing the improvement of Caticlan Airport. And not what is splattered in every major dailies that the opposition real motive is to protect the interest of another airport slightly far from Boracay.

When the x’s and the y’s are all considered, I know that a new Caticlan Airport is a more just choice. It will bring more business. It will give improve the safety of passengers that arrive and depart from Boracay. All of this redound to a better tourism and economy for our country.

I am going to see Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth Live at SMX Convention Center this June 8, 2010.

I watched his Inconvenient Truth Documentary and it created a great impact in the way I ought to consider my actions in relation to the environment.

There is no more a Vituperian Male in my shell knowing that I am just part of a bigger universe.

At the rate of what is happening in our environment, events such as Al Gore Live in Manila creates energy to the greater task at hand of spreading the urgency of taking care Mother Earth.

I know that in Asia, in particular in the Philippines Global Warming has not yet shown its monstrous self. But I will not wait for it to happen.

As I was saying this, if I am given a wish list, top of my wishlist is to remove all communities near Pasig River and other bodies of water. The human waste are way tooo much for the rivers to handle. The effects are devastating. I will never forget Ondoy and there is no need to explain further the bad memories that the great typhoon created.

Anyways, I am very excited and all pump-up to see in the flesh Al Gore, a Nobel Peace Prize Awardee. Guess what, I am seated at the VIP Section and because of that a big chance to have his pictures taken, hopefully, with me beside him.